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That drought has ended this season, though, with the reemergence of a player who spent half of his 2012 season with Asheville but was moved back down to Tri-Cities, the Colorado Rockies' Class A Short Season league, after not performing up to expectations.

But it's safe to say this season that at just 20 years old with one more year of experience under his belt, Asheville infielder and Dominican Republic native Rosell Herrera is exceeding expectations as he has hung around a .360 batting average virtually all season.

The last Asheville player to hit above .360 was Dan Murphy in 1981, who finished the season with a .369 average.

“Last year Rosell was 19 years old here. He struggled early and lost confidence in himself, and once you lose confidence it's tough in the game of baseball,” said Asheville manager Fred Ocasio, who managed Tri-Cities last year. “He went down to Tri-Cities and regained some of that confidence and this year he's been a different guy.”

Through 86 games (July 12) Herrera was batting .356 and tallied 67 runs for second place in the SAL in both categories. He had the most hits of anyone in the league, with 116, and second place for doubles (26) on the season. He was also up to 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, 46 walks and 18 stolen bases.

“His talent level is extremely high and that's the key. He has the quickest hands on the team and that's what it takes to hit. If you put that together with confidence you end up swinging the bat well, which is what he's doing,” said Tourists hitting coach Mike Devereaux. “You just can't get the ball by him right now. When things are going well for you and you're confident, the ball seems like a beach ball to you.”

Having played baseball since age 3 and getting signed as an international free agent by the Rockies in 2009 at just 16 years old, Herrera has spent most of his formative years working towards his dream of making it to the big leagues — but he has no qualms about baseball defining his youth.

“It's been beautiful, it's what I love to do,” Herrera said through a translator, teammate Rayan Gonzalez. “I have ups and downs; I've struggled and I've been successful. Last year I struggled a little but I've worked harder and harder and and have had success this season.

“Baseball is a mental game and at some point you're going to have a mental drop here and there. I learned a lot from last year, and when I went back down (to Tri-Cities) I focused on what I did wrong mentally, and decided this year that I would come back out and grind it out.”

Even at a young age hard work hasn't evaded Herrera. Fans have grown used to seeing him sprinting out to take the field in between innings, and then sprinting back to the dugout to get ready to hit when the Tourists are up to bat.

“Since I was little my dad told me to watch Sammy Sosa on TV and watch how he sprinted on and off the field. I took it as a routine for myself and so I've just done that every day, sprinted off and on the field,” Herrera said. “My teammates ask me how I do that every time, especially since it's a long season, but God gives me the strength and I'll keep doing it.”

This year Rosell is the fourth-youngest member of the Tourists lineup but one of the hardest-working players according to his coaches.

“He's worked very hard; he's definitely one of the hardest workers,” Devereaux said. “The guys that work the hardest are the guys you see climbing the ladder, and he's one of those guys.”

“Every year you've got a lot of guys who have the talent, and Rosell is just a really talented kid. Hopefully he continues to do what he's doing and doesn't get hurt because tool-wise he's got it all,” Ocasio said. “He's having a really great year, and I would like to see him finish here knowing that he had not just a good year or OK year but a great year.”

<p>It's been a while — 32 years to be exact — since an Asheville Tourist has maintained a batting average of at least .360, even with the Tourists' 2012 South Atlantic League championship title. </p><p>That drought has ended this season, though, with the reemergence of a player who spent half of his 2012 season with Asheville but was moved back down to Tri-Cities, the Colorado Rockies' Class A Short Season league, after not performing up to expectations. </p><p>But it's safe to say this season that at just 20 years old with one more year of experience under his belt, Asheville infielder and Dominican Republic native Rosell Herrera is exceeding expectations as he has hung around a .360 batting average virtually all season. </p><p>The last Asheville player to hit above .360 was Dan Murphy in 1981, who finished the season with a .369 average. </p><p>“Last year Rosell was 19 years old here. He struggled early and lost confidence in himself, and once you lose confidence it's tough in the game of baseball,” said Asheville manager Fred Ocasio, who managed Tri-Cities last year. “He went down to Tri-Cities and regained some of that confidence and this year he's been a different guy.” </p><p>Through 86 games (July 12) Herrera was batting .356 and tallied 67 runs for second place in the SAL in both categories. He had the most hits of anyone in the league, with 116, and second place for doubles (26) on the season. He was also up to 14 home runs, 58 RBIs, 46 walks and 18 stolen bases.</p><p>“His talent level is extremely high and that's the key. He has the quickest hands on the team and that's what it takes to hit. If you put that together with confidence you end up swinging the bat well, which is what he's doing,” said Tourists hitting coach Mike Devereaux. “You just can't get the ball by him right now. When things are going well for you and you're confident, the ball seems like a beach ball to you.” </p><p>Having played baseball since age 3 and getting signed as an international free agent by the Rockies in 2009 at just 16 years old, Herrera has spent most of his formative years working towards his dream of making it to the big leagues — but he has no qualms about baseball defining his youth. </p><p>“It's been beautiful, it's what I love to do,” Herrera said through a translator, teammate Rayan Gonzalez. “I have ups and downs; I've struggled and I've been successful. Last year I struggled a little but I've worked harder and harder and and have had success this season. </p><p>“Baseball is a mental game and at some point you're going to have a mental drop here and there. I learned a lot from last year, and when I went back down (to Tri-Cities) I focused on what I did wrong mentally, and decided this year that I would come back out and grind it out.” </p><p>Even at a young age hard work hasn't evaded Herrera. Fans have grown used to seeing him sprinting out to take the field in between innings, and then sprinting back to the dugout to get ready to hit when the Tourists are up to bat. </p><p>“Since I was little my dad told me to watch Sammy Sosa on TV and watch how he sprinted on and off the field. I took it as a routine for myself and so I've just done that every day, sprinted off and on the field,” Herrera said. “My teammates ask me how I do that every time, especially since it's a long season, but God gives me the strength and I'll keep doing it.” </p><p>This year Rosell is the fourth-youngest member of the Tourists lineup but one of the hardest-working players according to his coaches. </p><p>“He's worked very hard; he's definitely one of the hardest workers,” Devereaux said. “The guys that work the hardest are the guys you see climbing the ladder, and he's one of those guys.” </p><p>“Every year you've got a lot of guys who have the talent, and Rosell is just a really talented kid. Hopefully he continues to do what he's doing and doesn't get hurt because tool-wise he's got it all,” Ocasio said. “He's having a really great year, and I would like to see him finish here knowing that he had not just a good year or OK year but a great year.”</p>